Washing-machines



B. A. WILLIAMS. Washing-Machines.

WITNESSES.

. AM. mom-umasnumc ca MY.(0.9BOIPNE.'5 Marisa)- Patented March25,1873.

BENJAMIN A. WILLIAMS, OF BEREA, OHIO.

iMPaoveMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 137,161, dated March 25, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN A. WIL- LIAMs, of Berea, in the county of (luyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and Improved Clothes-Washer; and I do hereby declare that the following is afnll,

clear, and complete description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing making part of the same.

Figure 1 is a side View of the washer. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section. Fig. 3 is an inside view of the end.

Like letters of reference denote like parts in the diiferent views.

The nature of this invention relates to a clothes-washer; and the object thereof is to wash said clot-hes by pounding them, in order to loosen thedirt, and for removing it therefrom by suddenly forcing the suds through them by means of a hollow piston or I plunger.

The construction andoperation of the same are as follows: A, Fig. 1, is a shell. Around in the sides thereof is a series of holes, a, Fig. 2, also indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. I. Said holes are covered on the outside by a band, B. Said band does not fit close upon the holes, but there is a space, 1), between it and the shell for the admission of air to the holes. In said shell is loosely fitted a hollow plunger, 0, having a space, d, between it and the side of the shell, as shown in Fig. 2. D

are a series of radial partitions forming several cells or compartments, E, and which have communications with each other by means of holes a made in each partition-wall. In the roof of more or less of the cells is made a hole, and which is covered by a valve, F, opening from the under side. G, Fig. 2, is a socket, secured to the top of the plunger, and in which is fitted and fastened the handle H. Projecting upward from the crown of the shell is a hollow standard, I, through the central part of which passes the socket and handle referred to, and which is thereby guided and retained in a vertical position by the cap J of the standard fitting closely around the socket. On each side of the socket is arranged a spring, K. The upper ends of the springs are connected to the cap J, whereas the lower ends are connected to the guide-plate N. Said plate N is secured to the socket, but which is, however, free to slide upward and downward in the standard, as and for a purpose presently shown.

side of the shell.

The practical operation of the washer is as follows: The articles to be washed are thrown into a barrel and properly supplied with the necessary water and soap. The clothes are now washed by striking down upon them with the washer, it being held in the hands by the handle H. Each time that the rim of the shell A strikes the clothes the plunger is forced down from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that indicated by the dotted lines (1, thereby repeating the blows, and by this means loosening and driving out the dirt, and at the same time agitating and causing a constant changing of the water by the several cells or compartments into which it splashes, thereby removing the dirt from the clothes.

To prevent suction, and thereby allow the piston to be easily lifted from the Wet articles, is the purpose of the series of holes in the Through said holes the air passes to the inside of the shell above the plunger, which, together With the water that may have found its way therein, is discharged into the piston through the valves F as the piston is withdrawn into the shell by the reaction of the springs K, which, by their contraction, draw upward the plunger each time that it has been forced down by the act of striking the clothes. I

To increase the efficiency of the washer the lower end of the plunger is made projecting from the center, so that on the striking of the edge of the shell upon the clothes the plunger will force the articles further down into the water and compress them more firmly than the washer would do if the plunger did not by such projection extend beyond the rim of the shell.

This apparatus is made of sheet metal, and therefore is not heavy to handle; hence the work of washing with it is not tiresome to the arms.

Claim.

Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The plunger 0, partitions D, valves E, shell A, standards I, and springs K, constructed and arranged to operate in the manner substantially as described and for the purposespecified.

BENJAMIN A. WILLIAMS. Witnesses:

JOHN H. Bunnmen, A. F. OonNnLL. 

